The TDI VRS has gone back to the lease company after 3 years and 71000 miles. Only real problem was a new DPF at 22,000 miles!

But, I have been given a 1.9tdi 60 plate s model estate for a month - it only has key operated central locking! I miss the remote control like mad! Also, the lock was frozen up yesterday morning - had to open it via the passenger door lock.

Otherwise its a nice car.

What else do you miss on a trade down?

You'll miss quite a lot, going from nearly the top - to the very bottom

I'm sure you can manage for a month though

It's probably the power that you'll notice most - it's nearly all missing

What else do you miss on a trade down?

All the other toys!

Couldn't contemplate anything less than Elegance spec' now

A couple of years ago my 06 Elegance was in the body shop for a couple of weeks and I got an Ambiente courtesy car - same engine, both 1.9TDi

It had rear parking sensors as an extra otherwise I would have missed them pretty quick.

The thing I missed most was the autodimming rear view mirror - I hadn't realised just how good it was until it wasn't there any more.

Then I missed the climate control - just couldn't get the heating set up right.

Then I realised how much I used the cruise control and that I had nowhere to rest my left elbow.

I also missed the stuttering hesitation mine had under light acceleration at 2000rpm - they tried all sorts and improved it but it never went away - I just learned to live with it.

I also realised that absence of jumbo box also meant silent handbrake operation instead of it being accompanied by a fart as the rubber cover fails to slip smoothly in its holder.

I don't really miss the toys to be honest, I bought a Toledo sport when I'd been looking at a Superb Elegance and Octavia L&K as I'd just loved the Seat's engine. The Toledo's spec was very basic which I thought would bother me in time but it never did as it was such an entertaining drive. What I do miss when driving more basic cars is the lack of power as it's too easy to get used to the turbocharged surge which I really miss when it's gone with your foot flat to the floor and not much is really happening.

John

I had an autodimming mirror previously and not now, can't say I miss it, but I do miss steering wheel audio controls which you can't even get on a manual VRS in the UK.